Incheon International Airport will become the world’s third-largest airport once its fourth phase of development is completed by the end of this year, potentially accommodating over 100 million international passengers annually, its operator Incheon International Airport Corp. (IIAC) announced, Wednesday.
According to IIAC, the airport’s second passenger terminal (T2) expansion, a seven-year-long 4.8 trillion won ($3.5 billion) project that started in 2017, is 95.34 percent complete as of April.
In November at its earliest, Incheon International Airport looks forward to holding the
“second grand opening” since its establishment in 2001. With the completion of this expansion, the airport will be capable of handling up to 106 million passengers annually across its two terminals.
This will make it the third-largest airport in the world in terms of passenger throughput, just behind Dubai International Airport and Istanbul Airport. The figure represents a 37.6 percent increase from the current level of 77 million.
The development comes amid the expansion of neighboring international air hubs.
Hong Kong International Airport, Singapore Changi Airport, Shanghai Pudong International Airport in China, and Japan’s Narita International Airport are all under construction to expand their facilities to accommodate some 130 million yearly international passengers once completed later in the 2030s.
As the country’s largest and busiest global air hub, the Incheon airport has seen an average annual growth of 7.5 percent in international passengers from 2001 to 2019.
According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the airport is projected to see over 100 million passengers per year from 2031.
Through the expansion, the airport’s cargo capacity will increase by 26 percent from 5 million tons to 6.3 million tons a year, while its number of flight operations will rise by 20 percent from 500,000 to 600,000 travels a year.
Notably, the airport seeks to introduce innovative digital technology such as the facial recognition identification service across the airport to reduce passenger stress and waiting time. The airport aims to shorten the immigration process for both departure and entry to 40 minutes each, significantly less than the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) averages of 60 minutes and 45 minutes, respectively.
Also, the expanded terminal will showcase ultra-high-definition digital screens in the arrival and departure halls that show flight information and digital media arts.
The terminal will also feature an outdoor garden with a replica of Seungjaejeong, a picturesque pavilion in Changdeok Palace in Seoul, to offer Korea’s traditional beauty to visitors.
“The IIAC plans to prepare the completion of the fourth phase of development and grand opening seamlessly with all its capacities,” IIAC President Lee Hag-jae said.
“Through a successful second grand opening, Incheon airport will provide the world’s best service to its passengers and welcome 100 million passengers annually to Incheon.”
As of 2019, the Incheon airport ranked fifth in the world for the number of international passengers and second in international cargo. The airport created 53 trillion won of ripple effects on the country’s economy that year.Source: Korea Times
